EYE MITRA

Eye Mitra, is one of Essilor’s flagship inclusive business programs created to increase awareness and access to vision care for underserved populations as well as improve local livelihoods. It addresses three key issues: providing vision correction, developing skills and creating jobs.

The lack of primary eye care services in rural India means hundreds of millions of people suffer the social and economic consequences of poor vision. Our idea was to empower people with knowledge, skills and a little bit of financial support to address the need for vision care in their own communities in a sustainable way.

550m

People in India suffer from uncorrected poor vision

$37bn

is wasted in lost productivity

1

Qualified optometrist for every 25,000 people

28%

of 18-25 year olds are UNEMPLOYED

EYE MITRA OPTICIANS

BRIDGING THE GAP

Eye Mitra (meaning friend of the eyes in Sanskrit), launched in 2013, trains young under-employed men and women in rural and semi-urban areas to become primary vision care providers. The program trains them to carry out basic vision tests and supports them to set up their own business to sell prescription glasses and sunglasses in their community. Participants follow a certified vocational training in refraction and visual health over twelve months as well as learning the commercial skills to run a successful small vision care business. Essilor provides ongoing entrepreneurship, logistics and marketing support to help Eye Mitras to grow their business, employ additional staff and run outreach screening events to expand vision care to outlying rural areas.

IMPACT

RESULTS

Today Eye Mitra is the world’s largest rural optical network. Active in 14 Indian states, these ‘start-ups’ have provided millions of people with their first pair of eyeglasses. It`s also helping to address a small part of India’s urban migration problem by giving young people the skills and qualifications to earn a livelihood locally, as well as empowering women to contribute socially and economically to their communities.

An independent study by Dalberg Global Development Advisors reviewed the work of 400 Eye Mitras serving 70,000 glasses wearers in Uttar Pradesh. It showed a total quantifiable impact of US$4.4 million a year – including increased earnings for Eye Mitra, increased income through improved productivity of wearers as well as revenues for rural suppliers and other local small businesses. The study concluded that if the Eye Mitra initiative was scaled up to all districts in India, it would represent a global potential impact of US$487 million a year.

The study also highlighted some of the important individual benefits of eyeglasses: wearers saved on average 1.5 hours a day on daily tasks such as farming or domestic work, and experienced increased independence in movement and travel. On a local level, the Eye Mitra program has contributed to increased income, respect, community cohesion and empowerment. Its impacts can be linked to UN sustainable goals such as no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and sustainable communities.

EXPANDING AND ADAPTING EYE MITRA

The success of Eye Mitra in India has led to new partnerships that are adapting this model to other markets. The Australian Government selected Essilor to be part of its Business Partnership Platform – an aid investment program to generate social and commercial returns in developing countries. Through launching an Eye Mitra program in Bangladesh, we will help young people to set up village-based businesses to detect vision problems and dispense affordable eyeglasses. We are working with local partners including the non-profit organization Grameen Kalyan which will support the creation of 400 Eye Mitra vision care shops and, where necessary, provide microloans to Eye Mitras as they build their micro-entreprises.

“Vision is such an integral part of life, seeing how the Eye Mitra programme has grown from tens of people to now thousands is really exciting.”

– Andrew Bastawrous, Co-Founder & CEO, PeekVision

TRANSFORMS INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND ECONOMIC FUTURES

“The Eye Mitra program demonstrates how correcting vision can contribute to a community in a very real and sustainable way. It both transforms individual lives and economic futures through creating jobs, improving earnings or productivity and benefiting other local businesses.”

THERE HAS BEEN A DRASTIC CHANGE IN MY LIFESTYLE, ESPECIALLY FINANCIALLY

“Before joining this course, I was like any other ordinary girl. We learnt a lot of skills and the way I participated in class helped me to speak freely without hesitation in front of other people. After becoming an Eye Mitra, there has been a drastic change in my lifestyle, especially financially.”

– Rekha Kumari, India, who is supporting her family and bringing vision correction to her village through her work as an Eye Mitra.

SATISFIED WITH THE SKILLS THAT I HAVE LEARNED AT MY AGE

“All my life I wanted to run a business. I initially worked with an NGO but then heard about the Eye Mitra program. I’m very satisfied with the skills that I have learned at my age. I look on this as my pension plan.”

– Illush Khan Uttar Pradesh, Eye Mitra, India

I AM TAKING GOOD CARE OF MY FAMILY

“After graduating I tried to get a job but my village is far from the nearest city. I am the eldest of all my siblings and all the family responsibilities fell on me. Thanks to my eye Mitra business I am taking good care of my family with my income without having to relocate to the city.”

– Raju N Rampure, Eye Mitra, Karnataka, India

I HAVE MY OWN IDENTITY

“I had a dream since school that I had to do something of note. First I was a daughter, then a wife and mother. With my Eye Mitra shop now I have my own identity and some standing in my family. I want to make this business grow.”